Nailed?

"One could even surmise that the ill-conceived and poorly thought-out questions were designed to create a further media feeding frenzy," he wrote. "Most seriously, this means that statistics -- and indeed, individual records, will be attached to reporting Dioceses and that individual Diocesan and/or Religious Order records will become discoverable in both criminal and civil legal actions."

It's the second time in three months that the mercurial cardinal has created a stir with regard to the abuse scandal. In April, he went to the steps of L.A.'s new $200 million cathedral to greet abuse victim Manuel Vega, an Oxnard police officer who had staged a hunger strike to protest Mahony's refusal to surrender documents to law enforcement authorities. Later, during another of his several public apologies since the sex scandal erupted, Mahony designated a chapel in the cathedral in honor of abuse victims -- a gesture that was quickly denounced by victim advocates as grandstanding.

James Sanders

Clergy abuse victim Sonia Rubino Todd (top) addresses San Francisco church leaders at a "ceremony of apology" as Archbishop William J. Levada (above) listens.

James Sanders

Clergy abuse victim Sonia Rubino Todd (top) addresses San Francisco church leaders at a "ceremony of apology" as Archbishop William J. Levada (above) listens.

Related Content

• "We Have a Pope": Fearful New Pope Questions Catholicism
  April 11, 2012
• Sex Abuse Victims Seek International Criminal Court Charges Against Former SF Archbishop
  September 15, 2011
• Tainted Saint: Mother Teresa Defended Pedophile Priest
  January 11, 2012
• 'Others Day
  May 9, 2012
• Charlie Sheen Praises Brian Wilson in Unhinged Radio Rant
  February 25, 2011

More About

• William Levada
• L.A. Archdiocese
• Frank Keating
• Roman Catholicism
• Religion

Like this Story?

Sign up for the Weekly Newsletter: Our weekly feature stories, movie reviews, calendar picks and more - minus the newsprint and sent directly to your inbox.

Privacy Policy Cancel Continue

Levada has fared little better on the apology circuit.

At a special ceremony at the Presidio June 14, the archbishop endured 4 1/2 hours of barbs from victims who excoriated him for his "lack of transparency" in dealing with the issue. As he sat stone-faced in the audience of about 125 people -- including two dozen or more priests and archdiocese personnel -- victims challenged his handling of priestly sex abusers. Among other things, they demanded that he lift the veil of secrecy surrounding the archdiocese's so-called Independent Review Board, which is supposed to investigate cases of alleged clergy misconduct, and asked him to appoint victims to the panel.

Their pleas were alternately angry and poignant. When it was finally Levada's turn to speak, he reached into his coat pocket and read from a prepared script, never once responding directly to anything that he had heard.